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Report on Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) — 24 September-30 September 2008


Rabaul

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 24 September-30 September 2008
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2008. Report on Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 24 September-30 September 2008. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (24 September-30 September 2008)

Rabaul

Papua New Guinea

4.2459°S, 152.1937°E; summit elev. 688 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


RVO reported that ash plumes from Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone continued to be emitted during 15-29 September. Plumes drifted in multiple directions. Ashfall was reported in areas downwind, including Rabaul town (3-5 km NW), Namanula Hill (3 km W), and Kokopo (20 km SE). Flights to Tokua airport (20 km SW) were canceled on 24 September due to ashfall. During 28-29 September, ash plumes rose to altitudes of 2.7-3.2 km (8,900-10,500 ft) a.s.l. Continuous incandescence at the summit was observed and roaring noises were heard.

Geological Summary. The low-lying Rabaul caldera on the tip of the Gazelle Peninsula at the NE end of New Britain forms a broad sheltered harbor utilized by what was the island's largest city prior to a major eruption in 1994. The outer flanks of the asymmetrical shield volcano are formed by thick pyroclastic-flow deposits. The 8 x 14 km caldera is widely breached on the east, where its floor is flooded by Blanche Bay and was formed about 1,400 years ago. An earlier caldera-forming eruption about 7,100 years ago is thought to have originated from Tavui caldera, offshore to the north. Three small stratovolcanoes lie outside the N and NE caldera rims. Post-caldera eruptions built basaltic-to-dacitic pyroclastic cones on the caldera floor near the NE and W caldera walls. Several of these, including Vulcan cone, which was formed during a large eruption in 1878, have produced major explosive activity during historical time. A powerful explosive eruption in 1994 occurred simultaneously from Vulcan and Tavurvur volcanoes and forced the temporary abandonment of Rabaul city.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)